Sailing Across the World of Sandwiches

There are some very interesting sandwich hacks out there that require a little extra time to assemble but appear to be ingenious. The internet is a great place for inspiration on creating unorthodox sandwiches.

TikTok Tortilla Hack: https://www.easycheesyvegetarian.com/layered-tortillas/

Recently a TikTok went viral for making a folded-tortilla sandwich. The concept is that you place four different fillings on each of the four quadrants of the tortilla. Then, you make a single radial cut in between two of the fillings. You fold the tortilla around in a circle so it creates one singular wedge.

It seemed like a great idea and brought a lot of attention to sandwich design. However, in practice, I would say this is an awful sandwich construction. While it compartmentalizes each ingredient, there is a reason a sandwich is two things in between bread.

With the TikTok hack, there are now two pieces of bread squished in between another two pieces, in addition to the filling. The ratio of filling to bread is completely messed up in each bite. I taste more of the tortilla than I do the filling. I would not recommend this method.

Rubik’s Cubewich: https://sandwiches.wonderhowto.com/news/make-rubiks-cubewich-0113377/

Another method that populated the internet when I was a kid was the Rubik’s Cubewich. Admittedly the Cubewich looks cool, but it’s just that. It takes a lot of time to assemble just for the look. You have to cut each filling into roughly equal size cubes so it stacks well. It is not worth the effort because the sandwich easily falls apart. I ended up with bread and a deli meat tray when I ate it.

https://potatorolls.com/recipes/ultimate-pbj-sliders/

Another method utilizes various spreads in one sandwich. This consists of placing three spreads vertically in columns on one slice of bread. Then placing three different spreads horizontally on the other slice of bread. This results in a sandwich with 9 different flavor combinations in each square.

This one was something I was excited to try. The time to create this sandwich isn’t nearly as bad as the Cubewich, however, the aftermath is quite annoying. I hate washing dishes, and in the end, I had 9 dirty knives. The spread residue would alter the flavor of the sandwich, so I used a new knife for each.

Overall, I was ambivalent towards the sandwich. It was a great idea, but my bites aren’t the same size as each of the individual flavor squares. I ended up having to be very intentional about my bites to truly experience what the sandwich was trying to accomplish. It’s a good idea but impractical if you need to eat something quickly or on the go.

Like many other food items, there are a set of standard sandwiches. Some standard sandwiches include hamburgers, reubens, club sandwiches, croque monsieur, and more. These are all delicious go-to’s, but people continue to push the boundaries of the sandwich. They add all sorts of ingredients to make strange combinations.

People have placed all sorts of ingredients in between bread. People experiment with flavor combinations, textures, and flavors. There’s no perfect sandwich because sandwiches are personal. A sandwich cannot be called weird until someone has tasted them. For me, I like to use sandwiches as my medium for using up the leftovers in my fridge.

One day, I randomly decided to make a chicken in waffles grilled cheese sandwich; yes, chicken in waffles, not chicken ‘n waffles. I cut up pieces of chicken and cooked them into the batter. This all stemmed from me accidentally sleeping in and missing the family breakfast. Because there were leftovers in the fridge, I came up with this concoction.

I made the chicken-filled waffle, then sprinkled cheddar cheese onto it, and folded the waffle in half so the cheese would melt. I took three foods that are generally tasty on their own and combined them into my favorite concoction ever! I swear by my chicken in waffle grilled cheese sandwiches.

Sometimes when I have chips, I put the chips on a cold-cut sandwich. The chip flavor doesn’t really matter, but I prefer a regular potato chip. The key to the sandwich is eating the sandwich quickly before the sandwich becomes soggy due to the condensation from the lunch meat.

When scrolling through Instagram randomly, I came across a donut burger.
I had to try and recreate it myself, so I bought a glazed donut, cut it in half, and put a burger patty on it. Who would’ve thought the sweetness of the donuts would go well with a piece of beef? I was shocked, but I found the meal to be delicious.

My sandwiches are unique, but they aren’t that exotic. They combine flavors that aren’t too drastically different. I have also utilized the internet as a resource for sandwich ideas. However, I have found some very unique combinations such as peanut butter and pickles, kimchi grilled cheese, and ham and Nutella. It’s interesting how many people are willing to try out a strange sandwich. How brave are you? What weird sandwiches have you created or tasted?

Admittedly, this is not the first time I have exclaimed this metaphor. Previously, I was able to give a presentation about this metaphor to a small group of high school and middle schoolers (approximately 70 students).

My presentation was light-hearted and deep at the same time. Life is like a sandwich is a metaphor that allows for the exploration of self. When is the last time you thought deeply about who you are?

Now, there are many ways to interpret it, but generally speaking, the start of a chapter, and the other slice is the end of a chapter. To be fully encompassing of life, birth is one slice and death is the other.

However, it can also be each sandwich is a chapter of your life. Your taste (personality) is capable of changing, so you may need to create a new sandwich. In your youth, you could have been the most free-spirited, adventurous child. Then, in your teenage years, you became super self-conscious and closed off to the world. It’s your sandwich.

How would you describe yourself as a sandwich? What qualities does your sandwich have? Is it sweet? Is it savory? Is it sour?

Here are just a few fillings and the representations I have created. I admit some of these definitions are quite stretched, but this is a beneficial exercise to get an understanding of who you are (or who you want to be). You can reflect on every part of the sandwich, from the bread type, the way its sliced, or whether it’s grilled or not.

Ham: If you put ham on your sandwich, it means that you are an adventurous person. You are free-spirited and do not care about other people’s judgments about you. You are very likely to do something wild in public just to add “spice” to your day.

Turkey: You are an ambivert. At some times you love to socialize, while other times you just need your space. However, you are extremely loyal to those close to you.

Peanut Butter and Jelly: You are a classic. You are fun and a kid at heart. You value simplicity and appreciate life for what it is. However, you might be going through the motions of life and need to switch it up.

Nutella (Hazlenut Spread): It’s a unique blend of chocolate and hazelnut. You are the person everyone looks up to. You make light-up peoples’ days when you talk with them. Generally, you’re a very sociable person.

The sandwich realm consists of more than just filling between bread. The dessert sandwich realm captivates many sweet tooths. There are many decadent desserts that take on the general structure of a sandwich, something between two end caps. Are dessert sandwiches superior to typical lunch sandwiches? Some dessert sandwiches include Oreos, ice cream sandwiches, and s’mores.

It seems clear that people love dessert sandwiches. Fundamentally, the structure of a stereotypical sandwich (filling between two like end caps) must be satisfied no matter what it is composed of, or else sandwiches would not be as popular as they are today. This is most likely due to its versatility and convenience.

So, the primary difference between a dessert sandwich and a typical lunchmeat sandwich is the elements it is made of. So, which is better? This is an interesting concept to explore, and not an easy one to answer because desserts are generally sweeter than lunch sandwiches.

Desserts have an advantage compared to regular sandwiches because they contain sugar. People typically prefer sweet foods, because it makes them feel “happy.” This happiness is due to the dopamine levels in the brain after consumption.

However, I believe that it is easier to complete a whole sandwich in one sitting than it is a dessert sandwich. The diminishing returns of pleasure for the dessert decrease at a faster rate than a standard sandwich. This means that as I increase the number of bites of dessert I eat, the satisfaction I feel with each bite goes down. In contrast, when I eat a lunch sandwich, I still feel diminishing returns on my satisfaction, but it doesn’t decrease as quickly.

Part of this may be due to the specific mealtime and the feelings associated with each meal. During lunch, I am typically very hungry and wish to eat something filling and somewhat healthy. I would only eat a dessert sandwich after dinner. Since I have already eaten dinner, I am fairly satisfied. So, the starting “emptiness” level, and thus maximum satisfaction level, is much lower for eating a dessert sandwich.

Furthermore, there is satisfaction in eating a lunch sandwich because it appears to be healthy. If it is filled or topped with a lot of vegetables, it gives the impression of healthiness, so it is more satisfying to know that you are taking care of your body. For dessert sandwiches, we know it is unhealthy, which makes it something to oppose or eat in small amounts. Many people limit themselves on the number of dessert cookies they will consume.

Overall, I conclude that a stereotypical lunchmeat sandwich is better than a dessert sandwich. Although, I do like eating the occasional dessert sandwich.

Two Popular Methods for Cutting a Sandwich in Half

It’s generally agreed upon by chefs that you should cut your sandwich in half. It’s important to cut the sandwich to make holding it easier. Also, when a sandwich is cut in half, it is much easier not to lose ingredients during each bite. From a visual perspective, the cut allows you to see the different layers of the sandwich.

There are countless ways to cut a sandwich, the most popular being in half. Other ways include cutting the crust off or turning the sandwich into some sort of shape. The debate is not as famous as the is a hotdog a sandwich debate. However, it is still necessary to discuss.

Some important factors to take into consideration when cutting a sandwich in half include the bread type. Not all bread is created equal. Some bread is dense, while others are light and fluffy. The type of bread affects how well the sandwich stays together. It’s important to consider the depth of the cut, whether it is all the way through, or just slightly. Toasted or grilled bread is the easiest and best to cut.

However, if you decide your bread is okay to slice in half, the next question is what direction. Should it be cut vertically in half into roughly two rectangles, or diagonal into two triangles?

Triangles are obviously the superior cut. With a triangle, each bite is unique, so there is something different each time. You can’t get tired of the sandwich. As opposed to a rectangle, where each bite is roughly the same shape and size.

Triangles are a more intuitive way to eat. With the corners, you know where to take your bite and where to hold the piece. On the other hand, rectangles are ambiguous. There is no specific way to hold the sandwich or location to take the first bite.

Another complaint about sandwiches is the crust. Many people, kids, especially, will remove the crust. To reduce the waste, a diagonal cut is the perfect method. By cutting the sandwich diagonally, it gives an illusion that there is less crust. This is because you have exposed the hypotenuse of the sandwich, which is slightly larger than the leg, which would be from a vertical cut. The appearance of less crust makes the sandwich more appetizing.

The next time you make a sandwich, enhance your experience by cutting it in half!

Another one of my favorite things other than sandwiches is math! Fortunately for me, my two favorite things are combined in various ways. The concept of sandwiches is present in a few interesting ways. There are theorems that use the sandwich as a representation of what is occurring.

The sandwich theorem is a way to find the limit of one function if we know the limits of the two functions that it is “sandwiched” between. This theorem utilizes the word “sandwich” as a verb meaning between two things. The functions f(x) and h(x) are the upper and lower bounds, so the function g(x) must be in between; this is the equivalent of a piece of meat between two slices of bread in a sandwich. The theorem is very intuitive in that if the two ends are present, something must be in between them.

https://math.libretexts.org/Courses/Mount_Royal_University/MATH_1200%3A_Calculus_for_Scientists_I/1%3A_Limit__and_Continuity_of_Functions/1.7%3A_Limit_of__Trigonometric_functions

Another very interesting sandwich theorem is called the ham sandwich theorem. The ham sandwich theorem states that given n objects floating in n-dimensional space, there exists a single (n-1)-dimensional hyperplane that simultaneously cuts all n objects into two pieces of equal volume.

The theorem gets its name from the case n=3, which visualizes the planes as a ham sandwich. It says that if two pieces of bread and one piece of ham are floating in three-dimensional space, then there is a single plane that slices each of the three items into two equal volume chunks. In this case, the knife cutting the sandwich in half would be the hyperplane that cuts the objects.

https://www.lastsandwich.com/articles/52/61

In contrast to theorems, there are certain math logic problems that involve sandwiches. A number sandwich is an arrangement of numbers where there is one number sandwiched between the 1s, two digits sandwiched between the 2’s, three digits sandwiched between the 3s, etc.

For example, a number sandwich using 1-3 would be:
3 1 2 1 3 2

A number sandwich cannot be formed for any range of numbers. Some number sandwiches that can be made include 3-sandwiches, 4-sandwiches, 7-sandwiches, and 8-sandwiches. Interested in a challenge, try making a number sandwich using the numbers 1-7.*

I was fascinated by the prevalence of sandwiches as representations in math. This is just another take on one of my favorite concepts in the world. When not talking specifically about food, there are so many other ways to use the word sandwich.

* A few of many possible answers is:
1 7 1 2 5 6 2 3 4 7 5 3 6 4
5 1 7 1 6 2 5 4 2 3 7 6 4 3
7 3 1 6 1 3 4 5 7 2 6 4 2 5

Wendy’s vs McDonald’s. Chick-fil-A vs KFC. The battle of the burgers is over, while the clash of the chicken commences. The chicken sandwich wars started when Popeyes introduced a fried chicken sandwich to its menu on August 12, 2019.

The contest ensued after the tweet master at Chick-fil-A claimed their sandwich was the original chicken sandwich. Shortly after, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Shake Shack, Sonic, Burger King, and many more reinvented or introduced their own chicken sandwich. All of these companies jumped into the trend to take down the king of the chicken sandwich.

Why was the Popeyes sandwich so special? It isn’t. Unlike most fast-food chains that “dress up” their food with lots of toppings to make it sell, the Popeyes sandwich was simplistic. There was no fancy bun, no fancy cheese, and no fancy topics.

I, a sandwich connoisseur, had to indulge myself in these chicken sandwiches to truly find the best. I have tasted a variety of chicken sandwiches from different restaurants.

Popeye’s: This is the chicken sandwich that started it all. The sandwich was super crispy, but the bun was slightly soggy. The soggy bun detracted from the chicken, however, it was a delicious sandwich.

McDonald’s: McDonald’s has dominated the burger market, so when they released the sandwich, I was excited. However, the McChicken is generally a bad sandwich. It lacks crunch and is on the smaller side. However, its price is superior to all other chains.

KFC: The sandwich is large and crispy. It was served on a dense bun, which I don’t like, but some people might like. It resembled the popeyes sandwich because of its simplicity. KFC is a very good sandwich that is similar to Popeyes.

Wendy’s: Instead of simplifying their chicken sandwich, they went the opposite way and introduced the jalapeno popper chicken sandwich. The jalapeno popper sandwich was tasty with the cheese sauce, but it was very messy.

Chick-fil-A: I’ve always been a Chick-fil-A hater because I think their chicken is way overpriced. So, I wasn’t surprised when I was served a mushy sandwich on the deflated bun. The breading on the chicken is very thin. It is the worst of each of the companies. There is no crunch to the chicken sandwich, so I conclude it’s an okay sandwich.

Now, who do I think won the war? First of all, all chicken sandwich lovers benefited from the war, as each company has been forced to improve their recipes. There is a much larger, slightly tastier, variety of sandwiches out there for consumers. After trying the chicken sandwiches, I have to agree with the internet and say that Popeyes has the best chicken sandwiches.

Is a hotdog a sandwich? Throughout this series of passion blog posts, I will be reviewing various topics relating to sandwiches, not just the food. However, this first post will be exploring what truly is a sandwich.

To discuss the sandwich, we first must trace its origins and create an operative definition. The sandwich, as the food many people know and love today, has its origins in England in the 18th century. According to History.com, the 4th Earl of Sandwich had such a gambling problem he refused to get up from his seat. He requested food be served directly to him at the gambling table, and his cook served him a piece of meat between two pieces of bread. Since the creation of the sandwich, the term sandwich has become a broader term. You can place jam between two pieces of bread and call it a sandwich.

But, what about a hotdog? This is one piece of meat in between bread that is essentially cut open. Is it really a sandwich if it doesn’t have two pieces of bread? This may seem like a trivial question, but the definition of a sandwich in the legal realm has great implications. For example, the state of California defines a hot dog as a sandwich which affects their sales tax laws.

Legally, a hot dog is a sandwich. Then do wraps count as a sandwich? Wraps also consist of food stuffed between a wheat product. How far can the definition of a sandwich be expanded?

Expanding the definition once more, we can say a filling between some sort of surroundings. Oreos are advertised as Creme Sandwich Cookies. At this point, we have forgotten that bread exists. We have ice cream sandwiches which are another form of sandwiches.

As I have explored the various “sandwiches” and what generally falls into the category, I have found a schematic by Alex Fuchylo that best represents my ideas. I have concluded that the qualifications of a sandwich are as follows:

1. The item must be edible and consumed with the hands.
2. The enclosing item must be wheat or grain-based.
3. The item can be for any meal of the day.
4. The item must fall into one of the following categories:
   1. Two Separate End Caps
   2. Open-Faced, One End Cap
   3. One Hinged
   4. Fully Enclosed

Sandwiches do not need to be filled with a meat product, nor do they must have two pieces of bread. A sandwich is a family of a variety of different food items.